Enabling heterogeneous catalysis to achieve carbon neutrality: Directional catalytic conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids

The increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide(CO_(2))emissions has exacerbated the deterioration of the global environment,which should be controlled to achieve carbon neutrality.Central to the core goal of achieving carbon neutrality is the utilization of CO_(2) under economic and sustainable conditions.Recently,the strong need for carbon neutrality has led to a proliferation of studies on the direct conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids,which can effectively alleviate CO_(2) emissions and create high-value chemicals.The purpose of this review is to present the application prospects of carboxylic acids and the basic principles of CO_(2) conversion into carboxylic acids through photo-,electric-,and thermal catalysis.Special attention is focused on the regulation strategy of the activity of abundant catalysts at the molecular level,inspiring the preparation of high-performance catalysts.In addition,theoretical calculations,advanced technologies,and numerous typical examples are introduced to elaborate on the corresponding process and influencing factors of catalytic activity.Finally,challenges and prospects are provided for the future development of this field.It is hoped that this review will contribute to a deeper understanding of the conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids and inspire more innovative breakthroughs.

Dealuminated Hβ zeolite for selective conversion of fructose to furfural and formic acid

The fructose-to-furfural transformation is facing major challenges in the selectivity and high efficiency. Herein, we have developed a simple and effective approach for the selective conversion of fructose to furfural using Hβ zeolite modified by organic acids for dealuminization to regulate its textural and acidic properties. It was found that citric acid-dealuminized Hβ zeolite possessed high specific surface areas, wide channels and high Brønsted acid amount, which facilitated the selective conversion of fructose to furfural with a maximum yield of 76.2% at433 K for 1 h in the γ-butyrolactone(GBL)-H_(2)O system, as well as the concomitant formation of 83.0% formic acid. The^(13)C-isotope labelling experiments and the mechanism revealed that the selective cleavage of C1–C2 or C5–C6 bond on fructose was firstly occurred to form pentose or C5 intermediate by weak Brønsted acid, which was then dehydrated to furfural by strong Brønsted acid. Also this dealuminized Hβ catalyst showed the great recycling performance and was active for the conversion of glucose and mannose.

Oxygen tension modulates cell function in an in vitro three-dimensional glioblastoma tumor model

Hypoxia is a typical feature of the tumor microenvironment,one of the most critical factors affecting cell behavior and tumor progression.However,the lack of tumor models able to precisely emulate natural brain tumor tissue has impeded the study of the effects of hypoxia on the progression and growth of tumor cells.This study reports a three-dimensional(3D)brain tumor model obtained by encapsulating U87MG(U87)cells in a hydrogel containing type I collagen.It also documents the effect of various oxygen concentrations(1%,7%,and 21%)in the culture environment on U87 cell morphology,proliferation,viability,cell cycle,apoptosis rate,and migration.Finally,it compares two-dimensional(2D)and 3D cultures.For comparison purposes,cells cultured in flat culture dishes were used as the control(2D model).Cells cultured in the 3D model proliferated more slowly but had a higher apoptosis rate and proportion of cells in the resting phase(G0 phase)/gap I phase(G1 phase)than those cultured in the 2D model.Besides,the two models yielded significantly different cell morphologies.Finally,hypoxia(e.g.,1%O2)affected cell morphology,slowed cell growth,reduced cell viability,and increased the apoptosis rate in the 3D model.These results indicate that the constructed 3D model is effective for investigating the effects of biological and chemical factors on cell morphology and function,and can be more representative of the tumor microenvironment than 2D culture systems.The developed 3D glioblastoma tumor model is equally applicable to other studies in pharmacology and pathology.

Oxygen functionalization-assisted anionic exchange toward unique construction of flower-like transition metal chalcogenide embedded carbon fabric for ultra-long life flexible energy storage and conversion

The metal-organic framework(MOF)derived Ni–Co–C–N composite alloys(NiCCZ)were“embedded”inside the carbon cloth(CC)strands as opposed to the popular idea of growing them upward to realize ultrastable energy storage and conversion application.The NiCCZ was then oxygen functionalized,facilitating the next step of stoichiometric sulfur anion diffusion during hydrothermal sulfurization,generating a flower-like metal hydroxysulfide structure(NiCCZOS)with strong partial implantation inside CC.Thus obtained NiCCZOS shows an excellent capacity when tested as a supercapacitor electrode in a three-electrode configuration.Moreover,when paired with the biomass-derived nitrogen-rich activated carbon,the asymmetric supercapacitor device shows almost 100%capacity retention even after 45,000 charge–discharge cycles with remarkable energy density(59.4 Wh kg^(-1)/263.8μWh cm^(–2))owing to a uniquely designed cathode.Furthermore,the same electrode performed as an excellent bifunctional water-splitting electrocatalyst with an overpotential of 271 mV for oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and 168.4 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)at 10 mA cm−2 current density along with 30 h of unhinged chronopotentiometric stability performance for both HER and OER.Hence,a unique metal chalcogenide composite electrode/substrate configuration has been proposed as a highly stable electrode material for flexible energy storage and conversion applications.

The combined application of stem cells and three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the repair of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is considered one of the most difficult injuries to repair and has one of the worst prognoses for injuries to the nervous system.Following surgery,the poor regenerative capacity of nerve cells and the generation of new scars can make it very difficult for the impaired nervous system to restore its neural functionality.Traditional treatments can only alleviate secondary injuries but cannot fundamentally repair the spinal cord.Consequently,there is a critical need to develop new treatments to promote functional repair after spinal cord injury.Over recent years,there have been seve ral developments in the use of stem cell therapy for the treatment of spinal cord injury.Alongside significant developments in the field of tissue engineering,three-dimensional bioprinting technology has become a hot research topic due to its ability to accurately print complex structures.This led to the loading of three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds which provided precise cell localization.These three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds co uld repair damaged neural circuits and had the potential to repair the damaged spinal cord.In this review,we discuss the mechanisms underlying simple stem cell therapy,the application of different types of stem cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury,and the different manufa cturing methods for three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds.In particular,we focus on the development of three-dimensional bioprinting scaffolds for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Two-photon live imaging of direct glia-to-neuron conversion in the mouse cortex

Over the past decade,a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly conve rt endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for n euro regeneration in the adult mammalian central ne rvous system.Howeve r,many questions remain regarding how a terminally differentiated glial cell can transform into a delicate neuron that forms part of the intricate brain circuitry.In addition,concerns have recently been raised around the absence of astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in astrocytic lineage-tra cing mice.In this study,we employed repetitive two-photon imaging to continuously capture the in situ astrocyte-to-neuron conversion process following ecto pic expression of the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 in both prolife rating reactive astrocytes and lineage-tra ced astrocytes in the mouse cortex.Time-lapse imaging over several wee ks revealed the ste p-by-step transition from a typical astrocyte with numero us short,tapered branches to a typical neuro n with a few long neurites and dynamic growth cones that actively explored the local environment.In addition,these lineage-converting cells were able to migrate ra dially or to ngentially to relocate to suitable positions.Furthermore,two-photon Ca2+imaging and patch-clamp recordings confirmed that the newly generated neuro ns exhibited synchronous calcium signals,repetitive action potentials,and spontaneous synaptic responses,suggesting that they had made functional synaptic connections within local neural circuits.In conclusion,we directly visualized the step-by-step lineage conversion process from astrocytes to functional neurons in vivo and unambiguously demonstrated that adult mammalian brains are highly plastic with respect to their potential for neuro regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction.

1.42-fold enhancement of formate selectivity by linker conversion on the Zn-based metal organic framework catalyst

Electro-reduction of carbon dioxide(ERCO_(2)) is considered an effective method to alleviate the greenhouse effect and produce value-added chemicals.Achieving the dominant selectivity of Zn-based catalysts for formate remains a challenge.In this article,the ZnIn-E_(12) catalyst is successfully prepared by solvent assisted ligand exchange(SALE) method to convert organic ligands,achieving a Faradaic efficiency of 72.28% for formate at-1.26 V vs.RHE(V_(RHE)),which is 1.42 times higher than the original catalyst.Evidence shows that the successful conversion of organic ligands can transform the catalyst from the original large size polyhedron to cross-linked network of particles with a diameter of about 30 nm.The increased specific surface area can expose more active sites and facilitate the electrocatalytic conversion of CO_(2) to formate.This work is expected to provide inspiration for the regulation of formate selectivity and catalyst size in Zn-based catalysts.

Development of a toroidal soft x-ray imaging system and application for investigating three-dimensional plasma on J-TEXT

A toroidal soft x-ray imaging(T-SXRI)system has been developed to investigate threedimensional(3D)plasma physics on J-TEXT.This T-SXRI system consists of three sets of SXR arrays.Two sets are newly developed and located on the vacuum chamber wall at toroidal positionsφof 126.4°and 272.6°,respectively,while one set was established previously atφ=65.50.Each set of SXR arrays consists of three arrays viewing the plasma poloidally,and hence can be used separately to obtain SXR images via the tomographic method.The sawtooth precursor oscillations are measured by T-SXRI,and the corresponding images of perturbative SXR signals are successfully reconstructed at these three toroidal positions,hence providing measurement of the 3D structure of precursor oscillations.The observed 3D structure is consistent with the helical structure of the m/n=1/1 mode.The experimental observation confirms that the T-SXRI system is able to observe 3D structures in the J-TEXT plasma.

Hollow Metal-Organic Framework/MXene/Nanocellulose Composite Films for Giga/Terahertz Electromagnetic Shielding and Photothermal Conversion

With the continuous advancement of communication technology,the escalating demand for electromagnetic shielding interference(EMI)materials with multifunctional and wideband EMI performance has become urgent.Controlling the electrical and magnetic components and designing the EMI material structure have attracted extensive interest,but remain a huge challenge.Herein,we reported the alternating electromagnetic structure composite films composed of hollow metal-organic frameworks/layered MXene/nanocellulose(HMN)by alternating vacuum-assisted filtration process.The HMN composite films exhibit excellent EMI shielding effectiveness performance in the GHz frequency(66.8 dB at Kaband)and THz frequency(114.6 dB at 0.1-4.0 THz).Besides,the HMN composite films also exhibit a high reflection loss of 39.7 dB at 0.7 THz with an effective absorption bandwidth up to 2.1 THz.Moreover,HMN composite films show remarkable photothermal conversion performance,which can reach 104.6℃under 2.0 Sun and 235.4℃under 0.8 W cm^(−2),respectively.The unique micro-and macrostructural design structures will absorb more incident electromagnetic waves via interfacial polarization/multiple scattering and produce more heat energy via the local surface plasmon resonance effect.These features make the HMN composite film a promising candidate for advanced EMI devices for future 6G communication and the protection of electronic equipment in cold environments.

Intrinsic polarization conversion and avoided-mode crossing in X-cut lithium niobate microrings

Compared with well-developed free space polarization converters, polarization conversion between TE and TM modes in the waveguide is generally considered to be caused by shape birefringence, like curvature, morphology of waveguide cross section and scattering. Here, we study the polarization conversion mechanism in 1-THz-FSR X-cut lithium niobate microrings with multiple-resonance condition, that is the conversion can be implemented by birefringence of waveguides,which will also introduce an avoided-mode crossing. In the experiment, we find that this mode crossing results in severe suppression of one sideband in local nondegenerate four-wave mixing and disrupts the cascaded four-wave mixing on this side. Simultaneously, we propose one two-dimensional method to simulate the eigenmodes(TE and TM) in X-cut microrings, and the mode crossing point. This work will provide one approach to the design of polarization converters and simulation for monolithic photonics integrated circuits, and may be helpful to the studies of missed temporal dissipative soliton formation in X-cut lithium niobate rings.

Three-dimensional cell-based strategies for liver regeneration

Liver regeneration and the development of effective therapies for liver failure remain formidable challenges in modern medicine.In recent years,the utilization of 3D cell-based strategies has emerged as a promising approach for addressing these urgent clinical requirements.This review provides a thorough analysis of the application of 3D cell-based approaches to liver regeneration and their potential impact on patients with end-stage liver failure.Here,we discuss various 3D culture models that incorporate hepatocytes and stem cells to restore liver function and ameliorate the consequences of liver failure.Furthermore,we explored the challenges in transitioning these innovative strategies from preclinical studies to clinical applications.The collective insights presented herein highlight the significance of 3D cell-based strategies as a transformative paradigm for liver regeneration and improved patient care.

Insight into structure evolution of carbon nitrides and its energy conversion as luminescence

A series of carbon nitride(CN)materials represented by graphitic carbon nitride(g-C3N4)have been widely used in bioimaging,biosensing,and other fields in recent years due to their nontoxicity,low cost,and high luminescent quantum efficiency.What is more attractive is that the luminescent properties such as wavelength and intensity can be regulated by controlling the structure at the molecular level.Hence,it is time to summarize the related research on CN structural evolution and make a prospect on future developments.In this review,we first summarize the research history and multiple structural evolution of CN.Then,the progress of improving the luminescence performance of CN through structural evolution was discussed.Significantly,the relationship between CN structure evolution and energy conversion in the forms of photoluminescence,chemiluminescence,and electrochemiluminescence was reviewed.Finally,key challenges and opportunities such as nanoscale dispersion strategy,luminous efficiency improving methods,standardization evaluation,and macroscopic preparation of CN are highlighted.

Recent advances in core-shell organic framework-based photocatalysts for energy conversion and environmental remediation

Direct conversion of solar energy into chemical energy in an environmentally friendly manner is one of the most promising strategies to deal with the environmental pollution and energy crisis.Among a variety of materials developed as photocatalysts,the core-shell metal/covalent-organic framework(MOF or COF)photocatalysts have garnered significant attention due to their highly porous structure and the adjustability in both structure and functionality.The existing reviews on core-shell organic framework photocatalytic materials have mainly focused on core-shell MOF materials.However,there is still a lack of indepth reviews specifically addressing the photocatalytic performance of core-shell COFs and MOFs@COFs.Simultaneously,there is an urgent need for a comprehensive review encompassing these three types of core-shell structures.Based on this,this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding and useful guidelines for the exploration of suitable core-shell organic framework photocatalysts towards appropriate photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental governance.Firstly,the classification,synthesis,formation mechanisms,and reasonable regulation of core-shell organic framework were summarized.Then,the photocatalytic applications of these three kinds of core-shell structures in different areas,such as H_(2)evolution,CO_(2)reduction,and pollutants degradation are emphasized.Finally,the main challenges and development prospects of core-shell organic framework photocatalysts were introduced.This review aims to provide insights into the development of a novel generation of efficient and stable core-shell organic framework materials for energy conversion and environmental remediation.

Computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection for hepatoblastoma in proximity to the major liver vasculature

BACKGROUND The management of hepatoblastoma(HB)becomes challenging when the tumor remains in close proximity to the major liver vasculature(PMV)even after a full course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).In such cases,extreme liver resection can be considered a potential option.AIM To explore whether computer-assisted three-dimensional individualized extreme liver resection is safe and feasible for children with HB who still have PMV after a full course of NAC.METHODS We retrospectively collected data from children with HB who underwent surgical resection at our center from June 2013 to June 2023.We then analyzed the detailed clinical and three-dimensional characteristics of children with HB who still had PMV after a full course of NAC.RESULTS Sixty-seven children diagnosed with HB underwent surgical resection.The age at diagnosis was 21.4±18.8 months,and 40 boys and 27 girls were included.Fifty-nine(88.1%)patients had a single tumor,39(58.2%)of which was located in the right lobe of the liver.A total of 47 patients(70.1%)had PRE-TEXT III or IV.Thirty-nine patients(58.2%)underwent delayed resection.After a full course of NAC,16 patients still had close PMV(within 1 cm in two patients,touching in 11 patients,compressing in four patients,and showing tumor thrombus in three patients).There were 6 patients of tumors in the middle lobe of the liver,and four of those patients exhibited liver anatomy variations.These 16 children underwent extreme liver resection after comprehensive preoperative evaluation.Intraoperative procedures were performed according to the preoperative plan,and the operations were successfully performed.Currently,the 3-year event-free survival of 67 children with HB is 88%.Among the 16 children who underwent extreme liver resection,three experienced recurrence,and one died due to multiple metastases.CONCLUSION Extreme liver resection for HB that is still in close PMV after a full course of NAC is both safe and feasible.This approach not only reduces the necessity for liver transplantation but also results in a favorable prognosis.Individualized three-dimensional surgical planning is beneficial for accurate and complete resection of HB,particularly for assessing vascular involvement,remnant liver volume and anatomical variations.

Optimizing the power conversion processes in diluted donor/acceptor heterojunctions towards 19.4%efficiency all-polymer solar cells

All polymer solar cells(all-PSCs)promise mechanically-flexible and morphologically-stable organic photovoltaics and have aroused increased interests very recently.However,due to their disorderly conformation structures within the photoactive film,inefficient charge generation and carrier transport are observed which lead to inferior photovoltaic performance compared to smaller molecular acceptor-based photovoltaics.Here,by diluting PM6 with a cutting-edge polymeric acceptor PY-IT and diluting PY-IT with PM6 or D18,donor-dominating or acceptor-dominating heterojunctions were prepared.Synchrotron X-ray and multiple spectrometer techniques reveal that the diluted heterojunctions receive increased structural order,translating to enhanced carrier mobility,improved exciton diffusion length,and suppressed non-radiative recombination loss during the power conversion.As the results,the corresponding PM6+1%PY-IT/PY-IT+1%D18 and PM6+1%PY-IT/PY-IT+1%PM6 devices fabricated by layer-by-layer deposition received superior power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 19.4%and 18.8%respectively,along with enhanced operational lifetimes in air,outperforming the PCE of 17.5%in the PM6/PY-IT reference device.

Reversible solid-liquid conversion enabled by self-capture effect for stable non-flow zinc-bromine batteries

Non-flow aqueous zinc-bromine batteries without auxiliary components(e.g.,pumps,pipes,storage tanks)and ion-selective membranes represent a cost-effective and promising technology for large-scale energy storage.Unfortunately,they generally suffer from serious diffusion and shuttle of polybromide(Br^(-),Br^(3-))due to the weak physical adsorption between soluble polybromide and host carbon materials,which results in low energy efficiency and poor cycling stability.Here,we develop a novel self-capture organic bromine material(1,10-bis[3-(trimethylammonio)propyl]-4,4'-bipyridinium bromine,NVBr4)to successfully realize reversible solid complexation of bromide components for stable non-flow zinc-bromine battery applications.The quaternary ammonium groups(NV^(4+)ions)can effectively capture the soluble polybromide species based on strong chemical interaction and realize reversible solid complexation confined within the porous electrodes,which transforms the conventional“liquid-liquid”conversion of soluble bromide components into“liquid-solid”model and effectively suppresses the shuttle effect.Thereby,the developed non-flow zinc-bromide battery provides an outstanding voltage platform at 1.7 V with a notable specific capacity of 325 mAh g^(-1)NVBr4(1 A g^(-1)),excellent rate capability(200 mAh g^(-1)NVBr4 at 20 A g^(-1)),outstanding energy density of 469.6 Wh kg^(-1)and super-stable cycle life(20,000 cycles with 100%Coulombic efficiency),which outperforms most of reported zinc-halogen batteries.Further mechanism analysis and DFT calculations demonstrate that the chemical interaction of quaternary ammonium groups and bromide species is the main reason for suppressing the shuttle effect.The developed strategy can be extended to other halogen batteries to obtain stable charge storage.

Options and survival benefits of conversion therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

In the study by Wu et al,patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were subjected to transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)as a conversion therapy in order to render their tumors suitable for resection.A nomogram was devised and shown to be effective in predicting the survival of these patients.Generalization of the results,however,is questionable since the study subjects consisted of patients who had resection after TACE while excluding patients with the same disease but not suitable for TACE.Immunotherapy can be considered to be an option for conversion therapy.However,markers for determining responses to a conversion therapy and for guiding the decision between TACE and sequential immunotherapy have been lacking.The question of whether effective conversion therapy can truly enhance overall survival remains unanswered.

Advanced Thermochemical Conversion Approaches for Green Hydrogen Production from Crop Residues

The huge volumes of crop residues generated during the production,processing,and consumption of farm products constitute an ecological nuisance when ineffectively managed.The conversion of crop residues to green hydrogen is one of the sustainable management strategies for ubiquitous crop residues.Production of green hydrogen from crop residue sources will contribute to deepening access to clean and affordable energy,mitigating climate change,and ensuring environmental sustainability.However,the deployment of conventional thermochemical technologies for the conversion of crop residues to green hydrogen is costly,requires long residence time,produces low-quality products,and therefore needs to be upgraded.The current review examines the conventional,advanced,and integrated thermochemical conversion technologies for crop residues for green hydrogen production.After a brief overview of the conventional thermochemical techniques,the review delves into the broad narration of advanced thermochemical technologies including catalytic pyrolysis,microwave pyrolysis,co-pyrolysis,hyropyrolysis,and autothermal pyrolysis.The study advocates the deployment of integrated pyrolysis,anaerobic digestion,pyrolysis,and gasification technologies will ensure scalability,decomposition of recalcitrant feedstocks,and generation of high grade green hydrogen.The outlook provides suggestions for future research into cost-saving and sustainable integrated technologies for green hydrogen production towards achieving carbon neutrality and a circular bio-economy.

Three-dimensional stability calculation method for high and large composite slopes formed by mining stope and inner dump in adjacent open pits

The 2D limit equilibrium method is widely used for slope stability analysis.However,with the advancement of dump engineering,composite slopes often exhibit significant 3D mechanical effects.Consequently,it is of significant importance to develop an effective 3D stability calculation method for composite slopes to enhance the design and stability control of open-pit slope engineering.Using the composite slope formed by the mining stope and inner dump in Baiyinhua No.1 and No.2 open-pit coal mine as a case study,this research investigates the failure mode of composite slopes and establishes spatial shape equations for the sliding mass.By integrating the shear resistance and sliding force of each row of microstrip columns onto the bottom surface of the strip corresponding to the main sliding surface,a novel 2D equivalent physical and mechanical parameters analysis method for the strips on the main sliding surface of 3D sliding masses is proposed.Subsequently,a comprehensive 3D stability calculation method for composite slopes is developed,and the quantitative relationship between the coordinated development distance and its 3D stability coefficients is examined.The analysis reveals that the failure mode of the composite slope is characterized by cutting-bedding sliding,with the arc serving as the side interface and the weak layer as the bottom interface,while the destabilization mechanism primarily involves shear failure.The spatial form equation of the sliding mass comprises an ellipsoid and weak plane equation.The analysis revealed that when the coordinated development distance is 1500 m,the error rate between the 3D stability calculation result and the 2D stability calculation result of the composite slope is less than 8%,thereby verifying the proposed analytical method of equivalent physical and mechanical parameters and the 3D stability calculation method for composite slopes.Furthermore,the3D stability coefficient of the composite slope exhibits an exponential correlation with the coordinated development distance,with the coefficient gradually decreasing as the coordinated development distance increases.These findings provide a theoretical guideline for designing similar slope shape parameters and conducting stability analysis.

A review on electrocatalytic CO_(2) conversion via C-C and C-N coupling

Electrochemical C-C and C-N coupling reactions with the conversion of abundant and inexpensive small molecules,such as CO_(2) and nitrogencontaining species,are considered a promising route for increasing the value of CO_(2) reduction products.The development of high-performance catalysts is the key to the both electrocatalytic reactions.In this review,we present a systematic summary of the reaction systems for electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction,along with the coupling mechanisms of C-C and C-N bonds over outstanding electrocatalytic materials recently developed.The key intermediate species and reaction pathways related to the coupling as well as the catalyst-structure relationship will be also discussed,aiming to provide insights and guidance for designing efficient CO_(2) reduction systems.